Alphardku 'kiss' Livina's ass.... :(

Sooo unfortunate event!!!

After heavy rainy day dated 19 January 2013 (exactly a month after my 3rd son's birth), finally my Alphard involve in an accident at Batu Pahat. This is my first ever car accident since i got driving licence in the yaer 2005!!! More regret - Toyota Alphard.

Truthly speaking, just a minor one. Front bumper had only few minor scratches but my smoke headlamp NFL was broken then. The left fender was dented a little. Car paint also (left fender) was also affected. Nothing happen to chasis and front bonnet coz the damaged was caused by a 'hard' kissing an ass.. Not crash into...

The accident happened at the junction of Jalan Kundang 4 (from Taman Bukit Pasir) exit to Jalan Tan Swee Hoe about 12.00pm. At the location, there was a Nissan Grand Livina in front of mine want to exit from the junction, just like me. The Grand Livina moved forward a little bit waiting for a last car to pass. Me also moved forward but dunno somehow that Grand Livina stopped suddenly (the car is a new car JPA **** - about a month older), he may be too cautioness. My sight was out of that Grand Livina coz concentrated on the last car to pass). Then, i did not realise that my Alphard already kiss that smelly ass until i heard something 'bang'. YA ALLAH.......

Without had much talk, i looked at my car and his, ermmmm..at first, i thought just front bumper got sratches, but his rear bumper had a major dented. Look closely, walaweiiii!!! Broken smoke headlamp!!!
Straight away, appologized to him and asked him to settle by claiming my insurance since i cannot afford to pay out of my pocket to replace smoke headlamp and his loss.

He look angry at first but everything was settled down nicely by lodging police report to able both parties to claim insurance.

WTF!!!! Angry with myself.......my wife 'bebel' to me...... ;)

Mileage / Speed Correction

My Alphard`s stock tyre is 205/65R16. It will give the tyre circumference dimension at 2114.0mm. My aftermarket tyre and rim is 225/45R18 with 2072.5mm circumference. Previous post, managed to achieve 689.2km per full tank with 225/45R18. The actual/correct mileage is re-calculated.



One complete cycle of stock tyre will give 2.114m distance compared to aftermarket tyre contribute 2.0725m distance.
With stock ECU, stock tyre (205/65R16) will have - 326,395.5 complete rotation.
Therefore my actual distance is calculated by 2.0725 X 326,395.5 = 676.5km.

With maintaining about 110km/h along the highway which was actually 2% faster, actual speed is re-calculated then.
110km/h X 98% = 107.8km/h only!!!

That`s why i felt 110km/h for Alphard is not right. Hahahahaha...
That mean for my Alphard, to maintain actual 110km/h, speedometer must indicate 112.2km/h. Ermmm, not much difference honestly. Opted to maintain 110km/h indicatated by speedometer.

Conversion Parts Alphard PFL to NFL

List of items to convert Alphard PFL to NFL:

Front

1.   Front Bracket 52029-58030                                                         (JPY5,400)       NEW
2.   Front Bumper  w/o sonar sensor (Pearl White) 52119-58150        (JPY11,500)     USED
3.   Cover Front Bumper Hole (RH) (Pearl White) 52127-58070-A0  (JPY357)          NEW
4.   Cover Front Bumper Hole (LH) (Pearl White) 52128-58050-A0   (JPY357)         NEW

Radiator Grill 

1.   Front Grill V (Silver Metallic) ASSY 53111-58090-B1                 (JPY16,315)   USED
2.   Front Grill G ASSY 53111-58070                                                (JPY13,920)   USED
(Bought 2 type of Grill)

HeadLamp

1.   AS Headlight (RH) 81145-58070                                                  (JPY28,605)   USED
2.   AS Headlight (LH)) 81185-58070                                                 (JPY28,605)   USED
3.   Socket & Wire, Head (Clearance Lamp) (X 2) 81138-52570        (JPY1,220)     NEW
4.   Ballast Cover   (X 2) 81139-58050                                               (JPY1,600)     NEW
5.   Housing, Connector (Clearance Lamp) (X 2) 90080-98298           (JPY540)        NEW 
6.   Housing, Connector (Clearance Lamp) aftermarket                         (JPY2,000)     NEW

FogLamp

1.   Lamp Assy, Fog (RH) 81210-42050                                             (JPY9,300)      NEW
2.   Lamp Assy, Fog (LH) 81220-42050                                             (JPY9,300)      NEW
3.   Bulb, Fog Lamp  (X 2) 90981-13047                                            
4.   Lamp Unit, Fog Lamp (RH) 81211-42050                                     (JPY6,900)      NEW 
5.   Lamp Unit, Fog Lamp (LH) 81221-42050                                     (JPY6,900)      NEW
6.   Bracket Fog Lamp (RH) 81481-58020                                          (JPY3,350)      NEW  
7.   Bracket Fog Lamp (LH)  81482-58020                                         (JPY3,350)      NEW  
8.   Housing, Connector (Foglamp) (X 2) aftermarket                           (JPY1,600)      NEW 
9.   Std Screw 1 (for fog lamp mounting) (X 4) 91673-A0616     
10. Clip (for fog lamp mounting) (X 2) 52161-16010      

Rear 

1.   Rear Bumper w/ sonar sensor (Silver Metallic) 52159-58050-B4      (JPY8,000)      USED  

2.   LENS, REAR COMBINATION LAMP, LH 81561-58050            (JPY20,220)    USED

3.   LENS AND BODY, REAR LAMP, LH 81591-58090 

4.   LENS, REAR COMBINATION LAMP, RH 81551-58050 

5.   LENS AND BODY, REAR LAMP, RH 81581-58090 

6.   GARNISH, BACK DOOR, OUTSIDE (upper) 76811-58040-B1   (JPY9,920)     USED

7.   GARNISH, BACK DOOR, OUTSIDE LOWER 76812-58020  

Side

1.   Side Door Panel (8 pcs) aftermarket (FRP)                                        (JPY14,725)   NEW 

2.   Side Mirror w/h signal RH                                                                  (RM220)        NEW     

3.   Side Mirror w/h signal LH  

Fender Mirror

1.    Fender Mirror 87930-58010-B1                                                       (JPY3,950)     USED 

2.    Left Front Fender 53802-58020                                                        (JPY8,315)     USED 

3.   Screw Fender Mirror 91631-60625   

4.   Probable Clip Fender Mirror 62955-12010         

(Left fender, re-sell, modified existing fender)

   

Latest FC for my ALPHARD

On 30 Oct 2012..

Going back to Parit Raja after spending AidilAdha day-off in Jerteh and Pendang.
Take PLUS highway all day long. From Pendang (Kedah) entrace to Air Hitam (Johor) approximately about 642km and normal road about 47km. (93% - expressway).

Pumped in Petronas RON95 about 59 litres priced at RM112 at Pendang Petronas Station.Normally i used Esso RON92 for daily use. Because there is no nearby Esso Petrol Station near Pekan Pendang, so had to pump in Petronas RON95 instead. As for my normal practice, i would re-fuel at R&R Seremban. This time i decided to continue journey without re-fuelling, just to measure what is the maximum achieved mileage for full tank gasoline on Alphard. Hopefully my Alphard would not run out of gas before reaching home. hehehe

Below were driving conditions:

1.   Avarage speed - 110km/h along PLUS Highway
2.   2 adults + 2 children + about 40kg luggage
3.   Wheather : 60% dry condition, 40% wet surface road
4.   Stop at R&R Taiping about 40 minutes with idling engine
5.   Stop at R&R Tapah about 30 minutes with idling engine
6.   Stop at R&R USJ about 30 minutes with stop engine
7.   Stop at Nasi Ayam Haji Ali Parit Raja about 15 minutes with idling engine

Additional car conditions:

1.  Rim 18" with 225/45R18 tyre Bridgestone Potenza R001
2.  Mobil Super2000 Semi-Synthetic engine oil
3.  Full tank Petronas RON95

I managed to achieve 689.2km per full tank....

State Car Emblem....

Lately, many cars on the road attach state emblem on plate number either front or rear.Honestly, i do not know if it is legal/approved by JPJ/PDRM. Based on my understanding, there are some organization`s emblem (PDRM/JPJ/KASTAM) and VIP`s organization such as Ahli Majlis Dato`-Dato` attach the emblem on their car. Of course la, Mercedes Benz , BMW, Porsche not Kancil or Nissan Lite Ace....hehehehe. What is the real reason the VIP attach the emblem? My opinion, they want to be recognized by others or to be treated as they entitled to.

Some say JPJ did not approve as they claim it is considered as an alteration of standard plate number. Some say they (PDRM/JPJ) will only take action if attach fake emblem without certificate paper. But if use state emblem, nothing wrong?? I am really lost here. BUT, i want to attach the state emblem too..hahahahaha...

Of course la, Terengganu state emblem la....

There are many type of emblem. The lowest grade is normal paper sticker. I bought one about RM30 at Dengkil. Epoxy type and gold color..hehehe. Look like  a good quality and sort of state emblem VIP..hahaha (koya jadi VIP!!)..wakaka

Look like VIP!?? hahahahah.. no lah..just proud to be Terengganu-ian...

Guidance Buying Re-Cond Car in Malaysia (non-technical)

Sharing based on my own experiences and observation in importing my lovely Alphard from abroad (Japan) to Malaysia recently.

Car Documentation In Japan

Syaken - similar to our car registeration certificate granted by JPJ once the car is registered for the first time to be used on the road legally.
Informations in the syaken
1)   Month and year of car manufactured
2)   Car technical details - chasis/engine number, cubic capacity
3)   Ownership - owner, address of owner
4)   Date/month/year of car to be used on the road legally for the first time.
5)   Mileage of the car when syaken is renewed

FYI, new syaken is given when
1)  Car inspection due (2years basis) - like Puspakom allow the car to be on the road 2 years & after that need to be inspected again.
2)   Ownership transfer

My Alphard is given two syaken during my time in Japan. Of course, being ownership transfer & when i bought the Alphard, syaken only remains one year. So need to re-new syaken once already due.
In syaken - there will be indicated the mileage when compulsory inspection is done. Must ask the dealer to see the copy of syaken to confirm the details in case suspect that year of manufacturing (YOM) and mileage are not genuine. If the dealer shows the so called original syaken (not copy), he must be lie to you!! Why? Syaken will be returned to Japan Authority before importing abroad. No way the importer hold the original car syaken.

Jibaiseki - car insurance
Syaken is granted with jibaiseki. Jibaiseki are not to be collected by Japan Authority. The importer could be/not hold the jibaiseki. For private AP, yes, we must hold the original jibaiseki to be submitted to MITI for AP approval.

Masyou - import car registeration
This document is very important. When syaken is collected, Japan Authority will granted the masyou to the importer. The importer must have masyou to enable car to be bring into Malaysia. Ask dealer to see the original masyou!! They must have it. The info on the masyou much likely in the syaken. Mileage,YOM,chasis/engine number.

If suspect the info on the documents are not genuine. Take note of chasis number to confirm the YOM. Can check via online for Toyota models only. Just key-in the chasis number. The website as below:

www.toyodiy.com

From this site, info that can be know are:
1)   YOM
2)   Model of car (as for Alphard - AX,MX,AS,MS,MZ,MZG,Hybrid)
3)   Toyota Part Number (all parts)


When doing my conversion project back in Japan DIY, i compared what is the differences between PFL and NFL in term of parts and ordered them at Toyota Dealer Part in Hamamatsu-shi.

Car Dealer Tactics!!!

Imported low spec and convert them into higher spec look alike/sportier which will bring more value (>RM10K) on market. If they use all original OEM parts, its can be accepted. But mostly, they will use non-original parts (FRP bumper), cheap fog lamp and tell the potential buyer that this car is in their original condition. We can confirm through this site. If an Alphard look alike AS model but check it through website it is actually lower spec, AX, the car is not in its original condition.


Mileage - cannot be trusted at all. Most of the recond car in Malaysia come with so called low mileage (<40K km). Are you really trust the dealers? In Japan, Alphard AX 2004 (like mine) with 32K km mileage was sold at JPY1,300,000. Same YOM another Alphard AX 2004 clocked at 120K km is sold at JPY450,000. Why must they buy the higher one? The odometer mileage can be set to whatever mileage they want to!! In fact, in Japan, there are services are provided by non-Toyota to reset the mileage priced at JPY5,000!!In Malaysia also they must got the device.

Replace Cabin A/C Filter

I never replace the A/C filter which is located under the front drawer compartment since bought this Giant. 

The bad smell inside the cabin is caused by dirty A/C filter.
Take out the filter from its casing. The filter is dirty, black in color.

I bought a new filter. Cost me RM26. Much lower quality but i want to try it anyway since this part is not a safety part and is considered cheap enough for me. The paper material is soften than OEM. Actually, used to survey the filter at Autobacs Klang Sentral last week. Priced at RM165, branded PIAA. Must be a good quality in term of filtering a dust & material, but to me its very expensive. Can`t afford the filter. Below, photos of filter which i bought at one of my favourite spare part shop at Batu Pahat this morning.

The OEM filter (dirty) vs new filter.